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RESOLVED That Ms Corinna Kershaw be duly elected as Chair.
RESOLVED That Ms Sian Vaughan be duly elected as Vice Chair.
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair highlighted the two main disputed facts of the case, which were as follows: · Was former Councillor Dowson acting in his capacity as a councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement? · Should former Councillor Dowson have been aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist? The Chair then went on to say that the Committee had been made aware of sensitive information and after considerable discussion the decision had been made to hold the entire hearing in private. In reaching the decision, the Chair outlined that the Committee had regard to the statutory guidance and the Local Government Act 1972. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider all the evidence and submissions in this matter. Following the decision taken by former Councillor Dowson during the first stage of the Hearing to absent himself voluntarily from the Hearing, the Committee had resolved to continue with the Hearing on the basis that there was no valid reason to delay the proceedings any further. Following deliberations, the Committee resumed in open session where the Chairman announced the decision of the Standards Committee as follows: The Committee has carefully considered all the evidence and submissions in this matter. It is to be noted that former Councillor Dowson absented himself voluntarily from the meeting at an early stage of the substantive Hearing. 1. The Committee has formally resolved, in relation to the two disputed facts that: former County Councillor Dowson was acting in his capacity as a Councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement; and that former County Councillor Dowson was aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist. 2. The Committee has resolved that, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Code of Conduct which states that “You must observe this code of conduct whenever you act, claim to act or give the impression you are acting in the role of member to which you were elected or appointed”. 3. The Committee has also resolved that, on the facts and evidence, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraphs 2(1)(d), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct which state that: “You must observe this code of conduct at all times and in any capacity, in respect of conduct identified in paragraph 6(1)(a)…” (Para 2(1)(d)); “You must show respect and consideration for others” (Para 4(b)); and “You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute” (Para 6(1)(b)). 4. The Committee has resolved that former County Councillor Dowson should be censured in relation to those breaches. This is the maximum sanction available to the Committee, as Mr Dowson is no longer a County Councillor. 5. The Committee would wish to put on record that, had Mr Dowson been re-elected as a County Councillor in May 2022, it is highly likely that suspension for a period would have been a serious consideration. It was noted that a fully reasoned report of the Standards Committee’s decisions would be produced and published in due course.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED That Ms Corinna Kershaw be duly elected as Chair.
Nominations were sought for the role of Chair. Mr Nick Watt Moved that Ms Corinna Kershaw be duly elected; Seconded by Councillor Guy Woodham. The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That Ms Corinna Kershaw be duly elected as Chair.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED That Ms Sian Vaughan be duly elected as Vice Chair.
Nominations were sought for the role of Vice Chair. Mr Paul Richardson Moved that Ms Sian Vaughan be duly elected; Seconded by Councillor Hugh Watchman. The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That Ms Sian Vaughan be duly elected as Vice Chair.
Councillor David Edwards declared a personal interest by virtue of being a Member of the Labour Party. He stated that some of the evidence contained within the agenda involved political issues; however, as a Member of the Labour Party he did not regard that as prejudicial to his involvement in the Hearing.
Moved by Councillor Guy Woodham; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards The Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 March 2022 be approved as a correct record.
No urgent applications for dispensation were received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair highlighted the two main disputed facts of the case, which were as follows: · Was former Councillor Dowson acting in his capacity as a councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement? · Should former Councillor Dowson have been aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist? The Chair then went on to say that the Committee had been made aware of sensitive information and after considerable discussion the decision had been made to hold the entire hearing in private. In reaching the decision, the Chair outlined that the Committee had regard to the statutory guidance and the Local Government Act 1972. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider all the evidence and submissions in this matter. Following the decision taken by former Councillor Dowson during the first stage of the Hearing to absent himself voluntarily from the Hearing, the Committee had resolved to continue with the Hearing on the basis that there was no valid reason to delay the proceedings any further. Following deliberations, the Committee resumed in open session where the Chairman announced the decision of the Standards Committee as follows: The Committee has carefully considered all the evidence and submissions in this matter. It is to be noted that former Councillor Dowson absented himself voluntarily from the meeting at an early stage of the substantive Hearing. 1. The Committee has formally resolved, in relation to the two disputed facts that: former County Councillor Dowson was acting in his capacity as a Councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement; and that former County Councillor Dowson was aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist. 2. The Committee has resolved that, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Code of Conduct which states that “You must observe this code of conduct whenever you act, claim to act or give the impression you are acting in the role of member to which you were elected or appointed”. 3. The Committee has also resolved that, on the facts and evidence, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraphs 2(1)(d), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct which state that: “You must observe this code of conduct at all times and in any capacity, in respect of conduct identified in paragraph 6(1)(a)…” (Para 2(1)(d)); “You must show respect and consideration for others” (Para 4(b)); and “You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute” (Para 6(1)(b)). 4. The Committee has resolved that former County Councillor Dowson should be censured in relation to those breaches. This is the maximum sanction available to the Committee, as Mr Dowson is no longer a County Councillor. 5. The Committee would wish to put on record that, had Mr Dowson been re-elected as a County Councillor in May 2022, it is highly likely that suspension for a period would have been a serious consideration. It was noted that a fully reasoned report of the Standards Committee’s decisions would be produced and published in due course.
The Interim Deputy Monitoring Officer addressed the Committee in respect of the Hearing into an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by former Councillor Paul Dowson of Pembrokeshire County Council, who was present at the Hearing. Also present at the Hearing from the Public Ombudsman Wales was the Chief Legal Adviser & Director of Investigations and the Investigating Officer. It was noted that the Hearing had originally been listed for 9th March 2022; however, it had been adjourned on the basis that Councillor Dowson was unable to attend. The Committee noted that it was being asked to determine whether there was any evidence of a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct and if so whether any action needed to be taken. The Interim Deputy Monitoring Officer highlighted some preliminary matters for the Committee to consider, which included a request by Mr Dowson for new information to be included in the Hearing, which the Deputy Monitoring Officer had received via email on the 7th and 8th June 2022; and initially to consider whether to proceed with the entire Hearing in private, based on information which had been brought to the attention of the Committee on the morning of the Hearing, the deliberations of which would themselves it was suggested need a resolution to exclude the public. In considering these preliminary matters there were concerns expressed over the disclosure of personal data and it was concluded that the Committee should go into private session to deliberate initially on whether the Hearing should continue in private, with a vote undertaken by a way of a show of hands. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider the matter. Following deliberations the Committee resumed in open session and the Chair advised that the Committee had been convened to consider whether there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct under paragraph 6(1)(a) which states that “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute”. The Chair highlighted the two main disputed facts of the case, which were as follows: · Was former Councillor Dowson acting in his capacity as a councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement? · Should former Councillor Dowson have been aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist? The Chair then went on to say that the Committee had been made aware of sensitive information and after considerable discussion the decision had been made to hold the entire hearing in private. In reaching the decision, the Chair outlined that the Committee had regard to the statutory guidance and the Local Government Act 1972. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13. The Committee then retired to carefully consider all the evidence and submissions in this matter. Following the decision taken by former Councillor Dowson during the first stage of the Hearing to absent himself voluntarily from the Hearing, the Committee had resolved to continue with the Hearing on the basis that there was no valid reason to delay the proceedings any further. Following deliberations, the Committee resumed in open session where the Chairman announced the decision of the Standards Committee as follows: The Committee has carefully considered all the evidence and submissions in this matter. It is to be noted that former Councillor Dowson absented himself voluntarily from the meeting at an early stage of the substantive Hearing. 1. The Committee has formally resolved, in relation to the two disputed facts that: former County Councillor Dowson was acting in his capacity as a Councillor when he posted his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement; and that former County Councillor Dowson was aware that some or all of the post he published on 8th June 2020 was likely to be considered racist. 2. The Committee has resolved that, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Code of Conduct which states that “You must observe this code of conduct whenever you act, claim to act or give the impression you are acting in the role of member to which you were elected or appointed”. 3. The Committee has also resolved that, on the facts and evidence, former County Councillor Dowson, when publishing the Facebook post, breached Paragraphs 2(1)(d), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct which state that: “You must observe this code of conduct at all times and in any capacity, in respect of conduct identified in paragraph 6(1)(a)…” (Para 2(1)(d)); “You must show respect and consideration for others” (Para 4(b)); and “You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute” (Para 6(1)(b)). 4. The Committee has resolved that former County Councillor Dowson should be censured in relation to those breaches. This is the maximum sanction available to the Committee, as Mr Dowson is no longer a County Councillor. 5. The Committee would wish to put on record that, had Mr Dowson been re-elected as a County Councillor in May 2022, it is highly likely that suspension for a period would have been a serious consideration. It was noted that a fully reasoned report of the Standards Committee’s decisions would be produced and published in due course.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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